,USE OF INSECTICIDES AS GRANULES FOR

PROTECTING PADDY CROP AGAINST PEST'S

BY
K. SASIDHARAN

PILLA'

THESIS
SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE
DOCTOR

OF PHILOSOPHY

KERAlA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE

DIVISION OF AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY

"

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
VElLAYANI,TRIVANDRUM
1981

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ABSTRACT
Field studies were undertaken to ascertain the use of insecticides in
controlling the various pests of paddy when applied as granules in soil. The insecticides
used for these studies were carbofuran, phorato, mophosfolan, disulfoton, quinalphos and
chlorodimoform which were used at two graded concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 kg ai/ba,
1.0 and 2.0 kg ai/ha, 0.5 and 1.0 kg ai/ha, 1.0 and 2 kg ai/ha, 1.0 and 2.0 kg ai/ha and 1.0
and 2.0 kg ai/ha respectively. To study the relative efficiency of these insecticides a field
experiment was laid out adopting randomized block design. The insecticides were applied
at two occasions viz. 21 DAT (Days after transplanting) and 45 DAT. The results were
assessed by observing the effects of the treatments on the population of various pests as a
result of the application at 21 DAT and 45 DAT separately and of the two combined
treatments. This experiment was undertaken during three seasons viz. virippu(May to
September), mundakan (September to January) and puncha (January to May). The
persistent toxicity of the insecticides to BPH (Brown Plant Hopper), RSC (rice swarming
caterpillar), and leaf roller caterpillar was assessed by applying the treatments in pots in
which the plants were raised and exposing the insects on them. To study the effect of
different frequencies of application of the insecticide granules on the control of paddy
pests field experiments were laid out and insecticide granules applied at 21 DAT only, 45
DAT only and at both the occasions, the experiment was repeated in three seasons. Effect
of two levels of irrigation viz field capacity level and water level at 2.5 cm, on the uptake
and persistence of insecticide in the plants was ascertained by exploring BPH and rice
swarming caterpillars on the applications. Residues of the insecticides when applied at 21
DAT only, at 45 DAT only and at both occasions, remaining in straw and grains were
estimated by bioassay technique.
Carbofuran when applied as granules at 0.5 and 1.0 kg ai/ha gave
effective control of BPH, GLH (Green Leaf Hopper), whorl maggot, stem borer, leaf
roller, caseworm, grasshoppers and rice swarming caterpillar. Gall midge control was
effective only at its higher done. The mirld and spider populations showed reduction by
this insecticide. Phomto at 1.0 and 2.0 kg ai/ha gave effective control of BPH, GLH, gall
midge and whorl maggots and rice swarming caterpillars. Predators were adversely
affected. Nephosfolan at 0.5 and 1.0 ai/ha showed effective control of stem borer and
gave the maximum increase in the yield up to 98.25%. A single application of phomate
at 2 kg ai/ha at 21 DAT controlled WLH, GLH, whorl maggot and caseworm effectively.
Two applications of phornate gave additional control of gall midge infestation.
Mephosfolan applied at 1.0 kg ai/ha at 21 DAT gave effective control of leaf roller and
stem borer; application at 45 DAT also gave good control of leaf roller while for gall
midge control two applications were needed. The increase in yield also was more (up to
91. 35%) when there were two applications of sephosfolan.
In general the absorption and persistence of insecticides were more
efficient at the field capacity level of irrigation than at a water level of 2.5 cm. All the

three insecticides vis. Carbofuran, phorate and nephosfolan left residues within straw and
grains whether applied on single occasion or on both the occasions. Residues were below
the tolerance limits in the case of carbofuran while it was above the tolerance limit of
sero in the case of phorate.
Gall ridge, whorl maggot, stem borer, leaf roller, grass hoppere and
rice swarming caterpillar. Predators were not affected. Disulfoton could show effective
control of HPH and GLH and to some extent of grasshoppers and rice swarming
caterpillars; the predators were not affected. Quinalphos did not appear to be effective in
the control of the major pests though some control was given for whorl maggot and
caseworm. Chlorodimeform was especially effective against the caterpillars including
stem borer, leaf roller and rice swarming caterpillar.
Carbofuran showed maximum persistent toxicity to BPH followed
by chlorodimoform, phorato, mephosfolan, disulfton and quinalphos. To rice swarming
caterpillar maximum persistent toxicity was shown by mephosfolan followed by
carbofuran and chlorodimeform. To leaf roller caterpillars carbofuran showed the highest
persistent toxicity followed by mophosfolan, chlorodimoform, phorate, quinalphos and
disulfoton.
A single application of carbofuran at 21 DAT, at a dose of 1 kg
ai/ha gave effective control of WLH (White Leaf Hopper), GLH, BPH, caseworm and
whorl maggot. Application at 45 DAT showed control of leaf roller and rice bug. Two
applications at 21 and 45 DAT showed.